Damp smell coming from external wall.

Liverpoolfan79

My NE facing external footpath dropped a couple of mm from the external wall. It doesn't get much rain and is usually dry. I noticed a slight smell last Xmas internally and it was coming from the foot of the wall. It went after a day and occasionally came back but wasn't bad. 6 weeks ago I got the house washed pre painting and there was a bad smell internally which seems to originate from the foot of the internal walls of the 2 rooms at that side of the house. I brought out a drainage company and he said it was the water from the washing going down into the crack. I could smell the pong from the crack and I filled in the crack. This smell still comes back and can be bad at times. Has anyone had this problem and if it is the water that soaked into the footpath/wall crack, how long can it last before drying out completely.

Thanks

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058251710/damp-smell-coming-from-external-wall

It the bad odour internal or externally.

Where is the waste water from the Washing being discharged. It it to a foul mains sewer, or is it going to a Septic Tank or is it being discharged to a Soakpit.

What is the water from the washing you mentioned being discharged from - is it a washing machine

Is the sewer system PVC or old clay pipes.

Liverpoolfan79

It's internal but also came from the crack in the footpath/wall joining before I fixed it. The only water near the smell is rainwater in a pvc pipe. The house was power washed before painting and a lot of this water went down the crack under the footpath/housewall joint.

A drainage company said they believed it was just water that went down this crack and will cause an odour until it dries and I was wondering if anyone had a problem like this and how long would it take for this water to dry out

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119252364#Comment_119252364

No

What the drainage company said makes no sense whatsoever.

I assume that there is no crack on the footpath, but that the concrete path sunk which caused a gap between the external wall and the path. - Is this correct? -photo

You mentioned rainwater in a PVC pipe. Can you put up a photograph of this PVC pipe where it is in the path.

Is there any Soakpit taking rainwater?

Liverpoolfan79

Yes, the path sunk approx 3 mm and the rainwater runs under the path in a pvc pipe away to a soakpit. not sure where the exact location of the soakpit is but it's in the rear garden which is about 10 to 15 feet lower than the house.

policarp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119252364#Comment_119252364

Rain water doesnt go putrid overnight.

It must be a domestic drainage problem.

C. Eastwood

Usually there is no foul smell from a Soakpit that takes Rainwater only.

However, if there is water discharging from a Washing Machine/ Dishwasher/ Sink in to a Soakpit, the washing power/ grease will block the Soakpit and produce the most horrible disgusting odours.

The sinking of the path may have cracked /fractured the PVC pipe which will allow these odours escape in to the atmosphere.

Could this be your problem.

Note :- Nothing except rainwater should be put in to a Soakpit.

Still stihl waters 3

Is your house a stone construction or double leaf 4 inch block

monseiur

You wasted your money on that drainage company, they fobbed you off telling you it was caused by water from washing the house going bad. Fresh uncontaminated water could be in that crack in the footpath for a 100 years and it would not smell in the manner which you described. Small amount of water as you described evaporates quickly, it's replaced next time it rains. As others have mentioned chances are it's a cracked pipe coming from kitchen sink of similar. Open a few manholes and check the pipe runs. It could be that the waste pipe from kitchen and/or washing machine is piped into the same gulley as the gutter downpipe. Pour some strong smelling detergent like Jeys Fluid into kitchen sink first and the drain pipe pipe from washing machine and check for detergent smell both internally and outside where the crack is. You can be 99% certain that the smell is caused by waste water originating from inside the house or perhaps a neighbours house !

Liverpoolfan79

Thanks for the info. I'll try the strong smelling detergent. There is a waste water pipe nearby but it's from an used bedroom ensuite. I'll might be able to eliminate something then.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119256987#Comment_119256987

You state that the Bedroom Suite is used.

However, note that if you have any unused WC or Wash Hand Basin or Shower etc, the water in the Trap will evaporate over a few months depending on the temperature.

This will allow Sewer Gas to escape from the underground drains out through the unsealed trap in to the room.

I totally agree with monseiur above - the Drainage guys gave a ridiculous diagnosis. Why can’t these guys just say “I haven’t a clue what is causing the odour”

Liverpoolfan79

I went around and opened the inspection chambers. I often open and give a quick inspection but I looked closer this time and saw that the top and bottom aren't sealed. The photo is the start of the seage line and is approximately 2 feet away from the external smelly wall. Could this contribute towards the problem?

IMG_20220627_181841.jpg

PS I agree that they should have just said they didn't know. Thanks.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119258477#Comment_119258477

Unbelievable total incompetent workmanship.

The riser on top must be sealed and water tight to the base.

This is the reason that the underground drains of all new houses should be tested with a Hydrostatic Test before the house is occupied.

Sewage will only leak out if there is a blockage downstream and the water fills up above the gap.

Sewer gas can escape through the gap. From the limited photo it is not possible to ascertain where it may emanate to.

The gap must be filled with Silicone Mastic, which should be packed in to the gap to make it airtight.

Liverpoolfan79

I poured Dettol into the chamber and also into the gully that took the waste water and got the smell in the house so I'll try another drainage company tomorrow as I'd rather a professional to fix it than me making a complete mess out of it....thanks for the help.

C. Eastwood

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119259757#Comment_119259757

Thanks

your welcome